Door closer



July 2l 1953 H. J. TURNEY 2,645,806

DOOR CLOSER Filed May 15, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 A N f 7 35' 3.a 342 496,53'

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garacecfaff'azzr/lqg e' Mu/Zar ATTD RN EYB as J0 l H. J. TURNEY Doon cLosm July 21, 1953 Filed may 13, 1952 sneetssneet 2' INVENTOR' oaaaofiswf ATTO RN EYS Patented July 21, v1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOORCLOSER Horace Jackson Turney, Phoenix, Ariz. Application May 13, 1952, Serial No. 287,484

This invention relatesto spring actuated'door closing devices wherein a plurality of springs, positioned on a plate, are mounted on the sur- Aface of a door with the springs attached to a cam or segment and with the segment `actuated by pivotally connected arms, one of which is attached to a frame in which the door is mounted. The purpose of this invention is to provide a spring actuated door closer wherein the wearing parts are reduced to a minimum, the life of the device is indefinite, and the service or upkeep cost substantially negligible.

Various types of door closers have been provided particularly for closing doors with an easy movement, however, such devices generally use a fluid that must be replenished from time to time and for this reason, and also because the parts wear, the service cost is comparatively excessive. The most usual and inexpensive type of closer on the market uses com-pressed air applied by means of a cylinder and plunger, to control the closing of a door and in' this the .compression is soon lostvand the device fails to function. kWith this thought in mind this invention contemplates a door closer formed with a plurality of springs acting on a pivotally mounted segment whereby in the opening and closing movements ofthe door the connections ofthe springs to the vsegment is such that one springacts against the other so that an even tension is exerted on the door, whereby the door opens and closes with comparatively easy movements. 1

The object of this inventionis, therefore, to provide an improved door closer in which the door is closed with an easy movement and with a combination of springs. g

Another object of the invention is yto provide an improved door closer that may readily beinstalled on doors now in use without changing the doors or mounting frames thereof.

6 claims. (ci. 11i-65)r Other features and advantages of the inven- I tion will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an elevational view showing-the upper end of a door with the improved door closer mounted thereon. ,y .A Figure 2 is a plan'view of the spring actuated door closer showingr the closer mounted lon a door, the door and adjoining part Vof the door' frame being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through pivotal connections of the segments with the parts shown on an enlarged scale and illustrating the connections of the arm ment. y Q

Figure 4`is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 showing a splined section on a stub shaft con-'- necting the arm to the segment.

Figure 5 is a detail through the outer corner of the segment illustrating the connection of the main spring to the segment.

Figure 6 is a section showing a plan view' of a connection between the rod pivotally connecting the door actuating arm to the frame and Another object of the invention is to rprovide a door closer that holds a vdoor firmly closed, the greatest pressure being exerted on the door while in a closed position. In other positions the pressure lon Athe door is almost constant 'so'thatthe door may be easily opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved spring actuated doorcloser which is of a simple and economical construction. Y With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a mounting plate having a main spring, an auxiliary springyand a checking spring mounted thereonl and an arm extended from a segment which is pivotally con,-y nected to a rod adaptedl to ,begconnected to'a door frame.

showing a right hand thread in said connection. Figure '7 is a similar section showing the con# nection of the vopposite end ofthe rod to the arm wherein a left hand thread is used. n

Figure 8 isa detail showing a pin' extended from the mounting plate on thefdoor for holding one end of the auxiliary spring.

` Figure 9 is a detail showing the connection of the 'checking spring to the mounting plate.

Figure 10 is a detail showing Va plan View of the operating cam or segment.

Figure 11 is a plan viewr similar to that shown in Fig. 2 illustrating the door and'spring actu` ated closure elements thereon with the door in a partly open position.

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the door in a full open position, whereiny the door is swung to an angle of Referring now to the drawings wherein like y reference characters denote corresponding parts thefimproved door closer of this invention includes a segment `Ill pivotally mounted by 'a stub shaft II on a mounting plate I2, av main spring I3, an auxiliary spring I4, checking spring I5, an arm I6 xedlymountedwith splines I1 on the stub shaft I I and arod I8 pivotally mounted by -a pin I9 onr the outer end of thearm I6 and pivotally connected, at the opposite end,.by a'pinf20 to a door frame 2l. f l The segment I0, which is pivotally mounted on; the mounting plate -.I2 bythe stub'shaft VII which is journaled in a bearing 22. is "provided and main spring to'the seg- 3 with an opening 23 by which the spring I3 is connected to the segment and an opening 24 by which the checking spring I is connected to the segment as hereinafter described.

The arm I6 is retained on the upper end of the stub shaft II with a nut 25 that is threaded on a stud 26 extended from the spline section I1 of the shaft. The outer end of the arm I6 is provided with a U-shaped section 21 through which the pin or bolt I9 extends and the end of the rod I8 is threaded into a socket 28 that is pivotally mounted on the pin I9. A lock nut 29 is provided on the rod I8 for retaining the parts in adjusted position. At the opposite end the rod I8 is threaded into a socket 30 and the socket is provided with an opening 3I by which it is pivotally mounted on the pin 29 that extends downwardly from a base plate 32 that is secured to the door frame 2I with screws 33. The rod I8 is provided with a nut 34 to facilitate rotating the rod with a wrench or the like, and with right hand threads positioned on one end of the rod and left hand threads on the opposite end of distance between the pins I9 and 20 is readily adjustable.

The segment Ill is also provided with a pin 35 having a threaded stud 36 on the lower end and a plug 31, threaded on the stud 36 is provided with an opening 38 through which a bolt 39, extended through the spring I5 is positioned and, as illustrated in Fig. 9 the opposite end 40 of the bolt 39 is pivoted in a clip 4I that is secured on the mounting plate I2 with screws or the like. rThe bolt 39 is provided with a collar 42 against which one end of the spring I5 is held. The upwardly :z

turned portion 40, on the end of the bolt 39 may be provided with a cotter pin 43, or the like for securing it in the clip. The plug 31 is also provided with a collar 44 around which the end of the spring is positioned, as illustrated in Fig. 3 and the pin 35 is provided with a reduced section 45 that is positioned in the opening 24 of the segment I0.

'One end of the main spring I3 is secured by an eye 46 having a threaded stem in a clip 41 at one end of the mounting plate I2 and an eye 48 on the opposite end of the spring extends through an opening 49 in a bar 50 that is pivotally mounted on a stud V5I that is secured in the opening 23 of the segment I0. The tension of the spring I3 is adjusted by a nut on the stem of the eye 46. The stud 5I is provided with a cotter pin 52 and a washer 53 may be positioned between the pin 52 and the bar 50. The bar 50 is positioned to engage the pin 35 as the segment I0 is rotated in the opening movement of the door.

The auxiliary spring I4 is provided, at one end with an eye 54 that is positioned in a groove 55 of a pin 56 on one `end of the mounting plate I2 and the opposite end of the spring is provided with an eye 51 that is positioned on the collar 44 on the plug 31.

In installing the door closer of this invention the mounting plate I2 is attached to the upper end of a door with screws 58 and with the pin and the base 32 secured to the header of a door frame in which the door is hinged the opening movement of the door increases the tension in the spring I3 releases the tension on and the springs I4 and I5. When the door is in substantially the half open position the bar 50 strikes the pin 35 preventing the segment releasing the tension of the spring I3 when the door is opened 180. Upon release of the door the spring I3 causes the segment to turn which in turn actuates the door to the closing position. The turning movement of the segment increases the tension on the spring I4 with the tension decreasing on the spring I3 and gradually increasing on the spring I4. The action of the segment in decreasing the angle of pull of the spring I4 decreases the pull on the spring in substantially the same proportion that the tension on spring I3 is decreased.

The result of this action is that a substantially constant pull is exerted on the door Whereby the door does not build up momentum in the closing movement but closes with a slow easy movement. Y

In the closing movement of the door, as the segment reaches a position where the pins 56 and 35 are in line with the longitudinal axis of the spring I3, the segment is on dead center and the force of the spring I4 is cancelled. After passing dead center the spring I4 coacts with the spring I3 to secure the door in the closed position. The size of the spring I4 is such that the force thereof is about 1/ of that of the spring I3.

Just before the door closes the spring I5 which is comparatively short and stiff is engaged by the plug 31 on the segment whereby the closing movement of the door is retarded so that it closes with a free easy movement. Just before the door closes the spring I5 reaches dead center and the force of this spring is cancelled. After passing dead center the force of the spring I5 also coacts with the springs I3 and I4 to hold the door closed. This closing movement is adjusted by turning the rod I8 to adjust the distance between the pins I9 and 20.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A door closer comprising a segment pivotally mounted on a door, a main spring attached at one end to said segment and at the other to the door at a point spaced from the segment, an auxiliary `spring attached, at one end, to the segment and at the other to the door at a point spaced on the opposite side of the segment from that on which the main spring is attached to the door, a checking spring also attached at one end to the door and at the other to the segment, said checking spring being attached to the segment at the same point at which the auxiliary spring is attached to the segment and to the door at a point between the segment and point where the main spring is attached to the door, an arm xedly attached to the segment and extending therefrom, and a rod pivotally attached to the free end of the arm at one end and at the opposite end to a socket adapted to be attached to a door frame.

2. A door closer comprising a mounting plate for use on a door, a segment pivotally mounted on said mounting plate, a main spring attached at one end to one end of said mounting plate and at the other to the segment, an auxiliary spring attached at one end to the end of the mounting plate opposite to that at which the main spring is attached thereto and at the other to the segment at the point spaced from the point where the main spring is attached to the segment, Ya checking spring also attached at one end to said mounting plate and at the other to the segment at the point where the auxiliary spring is connected to said segment, a stud extended from the segment, an arm extending from the segment, and a rod connected to the free end of said arm and also to a frame in Which the door upon Which the mounting plate is positioned is mounted.

3. A door closer comprising a mounting plate for use on a door, a segment pivotally mounted on said mounting plate, a main spring attached at one end to one end of said mounting plate and at the other to the segment, an auxiliary spring attached at one end to the end of the mounting plategopposite to that at which the main spring is attached thereto and at the other to the segment at the point spaced from the point Where the main spring is attached to the segment, a checking spring also attached at one end to said mounting plate and at the other to the segment at the point Where the auxiliary spring is connected to said segment, a stud extended from the segment, an arm extending from the segment, and a rod connected to the free end of said arm and also to a frame in which the door upon which the mounting plate is positioned is mounted, said segment being triangularshaped with the vertex pivotally mounted on the mounting plate and with the springs attached to opposite points at the base thereof.

4. A door closer as described in claim 2 wherein the rod connecting the free end of the arm to the door frame is provided with threaded ends, one of said ends having a right hand thread and the other a left hand thread and in which sockets are provided on the ends of the rod by means of which the rod is connected to the arm and frame.

5. In a door closer, the combination which comprises a mounting plate adapted to be positioned on the upper part of one side of a door, a horizontally disposed segment triangularshaped in plan positioned adjacent said mounting plate, means pivotally mounting the segment at the vertex thereof on the mounting plate, a main spring attached at one end to one end of the mounting plate and at the other to a point at one side of the base of the segment, an auxiliary spring attached at one end to the end of the mounting plate opposite to that at which the main spring is attached and at the other to the opposite side of the base of the segment and at a point spaced from the point to which the main spring is attached, a checking spring also attached to said mounting plate at one end and at the other to the segment at the point wherein the auxiliary spring is attached to the segment, a stub shaft extended upwardly from said segment and by which the segment is pivotally mounted on the mounting plate, an arm extending from said stub shaft, and a rod having sockets threaded on the ends thereof positioned with the socket at one end pivotally connected to the free end of the arm and with the socket at the opposite end adapted to be connected to a frame in which the door upon which the mounting plate is positioned is hinged.

6. In a door closer, the combination which comprises a mounting plate adapted to be positioned on the upper part of one side of a door, a horizontally disposed segment triangularshaped in plan positioned adjacent said mounting plate, means pivotally mounting the segment' at the Vertex thereof on the mounting plate, a main spring attached at one end to one end 0f the mounting plate and at the other to a point at one side of the base of the segment, an auxiliary spring attached at one end to the 'end of the i mounting plate opposite to that at which the main spring is attached and at the other to the `opposite side of the base of the segment and at a point spaced from the point to which the main spring is attached, a checking spring also attached to said mounting plate at one end and at the other to the segment at the point wherein the auxiliary spring is attached to the segment, a stub shaft extended upwardly from said segment and by which the segment is pivotally mounted on the mounting plate, an arm extending from said stub shaft, and a rod having sockets threaded on the ends thereof positioned with the socket at one end pivotally connected to the free end of the arm and with the socket at the opposite end adapted to be connected to a frame in which the door upon which the mounting plate is positioned is hinged, said segment having a pin extended upwardly from the point where the auxiliary and checking springs are attached to the segment and said main spring being attached ,K

to the segment through a bar that is positioned to Contact the pin extendedupwardly from the segment.

HORACE JACKSON TURNEY.

References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I t Name Date 1,087,483 Clemmer et al. Feb. 17, 1914 2,353,384 Berg July 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS y Number Country Date 178.466 France Dec. 22, 1934 

